Asik will allow Thomas to rest up for the playoffs. That is a big value. He is also getting better every game. His defense has definitely improved. Who knows by playoffs he may improve enough for Thibs to keep playing him in the playoffs. Lee does not improve the Bulls significantly enough. Mayo may have but Memphis wasn’t dealing with the Bulls. Maybe they are still bitter from the Gasol negotiations.

It is curious though that other big market teams seem to pull of good trades while the Bulls never seem to.

I disagree, the bulls have pulled a lot of good trades recently. The trades that brought us Salmons, Miller and got rid of Gooden and Nocioni come to mind, and last year they cleared a lot of cap space for the free agency. I think this year management realizes that we are not only playing for this year. We are currently set up among the best in the NBA for the future, especially considering the new CBA that will come this summer, so I doubt wanted to mess with that unless they were sure they could make us a lot better both this year and in future years.